Cornish myths and legends – the lifestyle!

Myths and legends about giants, buccas and assorted spirits used to abound in Cornwall, tales to frighten the children or to provide entertainment in pre television and internet days.

Now we find another set of myths are common currency, these include tales about how people live in Cornwall as the following illustrates.

One of the best things about my blog is having people reach out to me with questions about moving to Cornwall.

I love hearing from city-dwellers and coast-dreamers wondering how best to go about moving or asking if I have any advice on the matter, and it makes me so happy that people find my little internet space useful for learning the low-down on all things Cornish!

So I thought I’d write a bit of an FAQ post with some of my tips and thoughts for anyone stumbling across this blog whilst trying to find out more about living and moving to Cornwall…

Q: Is it really possible to have the dream lifestyle in Cornwall?

I get it; the Cornish lifestyle is so hyped up by everyone, you’ve gotta wonder if it’s all too good to be true! But I can tell you from firsthand observance and experience that yes, people actually do fit in an early morning surf before work, we do head to the beach once it hits 5pm, and we do spend our weekends exploring the countryside and having adventures in the sea. It’s not a myth – it’s our real life I promise!

Now in reality, most people in Cornwall do not have lifestyles remotely like this. People are too busy working – invariably in low paid jobs, making ends meet as cuts in Government spending eat into incomes and coping with cuts to services as the Government reduces resources.

But this type of myth is not mean for the average Cornish resident, it’s aimed as the blog states, at those who are thinking of moving to Cornwall. It is part and parcel of the process by which houses are built in Cornwall not to meet local needs but to meet the demands of people living elsewhere. Demand which is encouraged by blogs like the one referred to.

It is in fact a dangerous process. Not only does it lead to unsustainable population and housing growth but it feeds into the myth that houses are being built to satisfy a local need and therefore don’t complain.

As the resident of Redruth commented, “they wouldn’t be building houses if they were not necessary” what she did not say or ask was necessary for who?